The Phoenix Suns head to Hollywood to take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Tuesday night.
Phoenix is on a roll right now with five wins in their last six games including back-to-back victories over the Bulls and Wolves entering this contest. Meanwhile, the Lakers have picked up a pair of wins over playoff seeded Portland and Golden State after a season-long four-game losing streak. Anthony Davis will still be out for the Lakers who have won their last three head-to-head meetings against the Suns.
The Phoenix Suns are 22-11 on the season and they have the 3rd best record in the Pacific Division. Phoenix is the 4th ranked team in the Western Conference behind the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and LA Clippers. Phoenix has won eight out of their last 10 games played and heads to Los Angeles after back-to-back wins over the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.
In their last game, Devin Booker poured in a season-high 43 points, shooting 15-26 from the field. Deandre Ayton posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Chris Paul scored 11 points and issued a game-high 15 assists for the Suns. Frank Kaminsky scored 9 points in 16 minutes and Phoenix is 10-1 with Kaminsky as their starter.
The Suns rank 13th in the NBA in scoring at 113.4 points per game. They are 21st in the league in rebounding at 43.5 boards grabbed per contest and are the 5th best passing team overall at 26.9 assists per game. Phoenix has the league’s 4th best scoring defense at 107.5 points per game allowed.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the top team in the Pacific Division with a 24-11 record. The defending NBA champions are second in the Western Conference team standings and are three games behind the leaders Utah Jazz. The Lakers have won back-to-back games after a season-worst four-game losing streak. Anthony Davis is still out of commission but Dennis Schroder has returned to play in their last two games.
In their last game, the Lakers pummeled the Golden State Warriors 117-91. LeBron James scored 19 points in a season-low 24 minutes of action with Los Angeles leading by 20 at the end of one and 29 at halftime. Markieff Morris and Alex Caruso each scored 13 points while Dennis Schroder added 12 points and 6 assists in 25 minutes of playing time.
Los Angeles ranks 19th in the league in scoring at 111.3 points per game and they have the NBA’s second-best scoring defense at 105.6 points per game allowed. The Lakers are the 6th best rebounding team overall at 45.8 boards grabbed per contest. They are averaging 24.6 assists per game, 17th in the entire NBA.
The Suns are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games played. Phoenix is 11-5 SU in 16 road games played this season, and 7-1 SU in their last eight games against the Western Conference. The Lakers are 10-5 SU in their last 15 games played. Los Angeles is 11-7 SU in 18 home games played this season, 15-4 SU in their last 19 games against Western Conference teams, and 6-1 SU in their last seven games in March. Head to head, the Lakers are 7-1 SU in their last eight games played against the Lakers.
The Suns’ offense has looked splendid in their last 10 games, scoring an average of 121.5 points per game while conceding just 107.4 points per contest and allowing their opponents to score 107.4 points per game. DeAndre Ayton is averaging 15.6 points per game in his last 10 games while shooting 68.7% from the floor during that period.
Los Angeles is back to its winning ways. After snapping their four-game losing streak with an impressive win over the Blazers, the Lakers blew out the Warriors at Staples Center in their last outing. Montrezl Harrell has picked up his game, averaging 14.8 points per game while shooting 60.7% from the field. Dennis Schroder has looked great since returning to the lineup while LeBron James continues to have an MVP season.
This is the first meeting between these two teams this season and the Lakers have dominated the matchup in recent years.
With Dennis Schroder returning, the Lakers have their second scorer and playmaker back. LeBron James will still have to carry the load without AD. Devin Booker and Chris Paul will provide resistance but the Lakers should win at home.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix is 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games played. The Suns are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games played on the road, 6-0 ATS in their last six road games as underdogs, 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games as underdogs, and 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games after a straight-up win of more than 12 points. Los Angeles is 6-12 ATS in their last 18 games played. The Lakers are 7-11 ATS in 18 home games played this season, 1-4 ATS in their last five games played against the Pacific Division, 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games when playing on one day rest, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games after an SU win, and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games against an opponent with a winning percentage of .600 or higher. Head to head, the Lakers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games played against the Suns, and 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings at the Staples Center.
The Suns are 8-2 SU and ATS in their last 10 games and four out of their last five wins have been by 18 or more points. Four out of those five victories though were against teams under the .500 mark. Meanwhile, the Lakers have won back-to-back games after a four-game losing streak. Los Angeles seems to have gotten its bearings back with Dennis Schroder’s return. Look for Schroder and James to lead the Lakers once again. This will be a close game but I think the Lakers will win by at least three points so anything below that will be a good bet for the home team.
Prediction: Lakers –1.5
The total has gone over in 8 out of the last 11 games played by the Suns. The over is 4-0 in their last four games after winning their previous game by double digits, 5-1 in their last six games as the betting underdog, and 5-1 in their last six road games against an opponent with a winning home record. The total has gone under in six out of the last seven games played by the Lakers. Los Angeles has seen the total go under in four out of their last five games played at home. The under is also 4-1 in their last five games as home favorites, and 24-9 in their last 33 Tuesday games. Head to head, the under is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams and also 5-0 in their last five games played in Los Angeles.
Both these teams rank in the Top 4 in scoring defense and they are combining to allow an average of 213.1 points per game this season. Los Angeles has held three out of their last five opponents to below 100 points while the Suns have allowed 100 or fewer points in four out of their last five games. These are two very good defensive teams who are outside the Top 10 in scoring. Give me the under for this game.
Prediction: Under 216.5
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